Machine for washing gold



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. BENNER.

MACHINE FOR WASHING GOLD.

No. 247,005. Patented Sept. 13,1881.

Fit 3195585? faave' nfay': @JLMWLL- 2 t e e h S P. w n s 2 R E N N E B M a d 0 M 0 m MACHINE FOR WASHING GOLD. I

Patented Sept. 13, 1881-.

I92 1/ a n t 01" 1 M h N PETERS. Hmln-Lhhngraphur, 'ashinglon, o. c

71?! n ass es.-

. j Y I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATHIAS BENNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' MACHINE FOR WASHING GOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,005, dated September 13, 1881.

Application filed May 4, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATHIAS BENNER, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Washing Gold and other Substances, of which the following is a,

full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top or plan view, showing the receptacle for the material, two sections, and a portion of another section of the sluice-box or trough; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, showing, also, the semi-cylindrical sections or receptacles beneath the sluicebox or trough sect-ions; Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section through the receptacle for the material, and one section of the sluice-box or trough and its semi-cylindrical section or receptacle; Fig. 4, a transverse section through the sluice box or trough; Fig. 5,a detail, being a top or plan view of a portion of the sluicehox or trough, showing the transverse slot in the bottom for the passage of the material to be caught and saved into the semi-cylindrical section or receptacle; Fig. 6, a detail, in section, showing the transverse slot and the cut- 011' or gate for stopping the flow; Fig. 7, a detail, showing a side elevation and top view of the slide or clearer for keeping the transverse slots free and unobstructed; Fig. 8, a side elevation of the head and tail of the sluice-box or trough, with the center broken out, showing the receptacle for the material, the water-wheel its object to insure and effect a thorough, ef-

ficient, and effectual separation. This object I accomplish by the construction of apparatus which I will now proceed to describe in detail, and afterward point out the improvements in the claims.

In the drawings, A A represent the bottom and sides of the sluice-box or trough; B, the

(No model.)

ards or posts for the supportM; O, the watersupply pipe; P, thelwater-supply pipes leading to the sections or receptacles B; Q, the hose or nozzle; R, the receptacle for the material; S, the water-wheel; T, the troughs orrecepta- .cles at the tail of the sluice; U, the legs or supports for the troughs or receptacles at the tail of the sluice-box; V, the legs or supports for the sluice-box; W, the supports for the rockshaft; X, the water-supply hose or pipeleading to the receptacles T; Y, the couplingfor attaching the hose or pipe X; a, the slots in 'theloottom A; b, the slidesor cleaners; c, the grooves in the side faces ot'a; d, the gates or shut-offs for a; e, the overflow for B; f, the hand-hole adj usting-holes for the links or arms; h z, the miter or gear wheels for driving the shaft 0,; j, the hearings or supports for the shaft of the wheel 2'; k, the driving-pulley on the shaft of the water-wheel S; l, the bearings for the rockshaft K; m, the supports for the pipe 0; n, the stem of the valves or cooks for the pipes P; o, the stem ot'the valve or cook for the coupling Y; 10, the detaining-bars for preventing the rocks and other heavy substances from passage down the sluice-box or trough.

The sluice-box or trough consists of a bottom, A, and side pieces, A, and may be made of Wood or other suitable material, and when in position may be given adownward inclination,

the lighter or valueless and undesirable by the action of the water during the transitfrom the head to thetail.

At intervals in the bottom A openings or slots to are provided, extending through the bottom, which openings are of sufficient width to allow the heavier, or that portion whichv it is desired to save, to enter and pass through readily, and be deposited in the semi-cylindrical sections B, a single opening or slot being provided for each section, as shown; but more may be provided if one slot does not furnish the required capacity to pass the portion to be caught and saved as fast, or nearly so, as it is separated by the water and descends by its own weight. V

The'semi-eylindrical sections or receptacles B may be made of sheet-iron or other suitable material, bent as shown, or otherwise formed.

As shown, they are a little more than a semi cylinder, and that portion of the sides above the center is formed straight, or nearly so. As

many of these sections or receptacles are to be used as maybe required for the length of sluice box or trough in connection with their own length, and theyare secured'to the under side the form of construction and arrangement shown only havinga single'slot or opening to communicate with each section or receptacle.-

Each endof each section or receptacle, near the upper edge, is provided with an opening,

6, which forms an overflow or waste for the discharge of the water and the light material as it is separated from the heavy in the section or receptacle; and, as shown, each receptacle at the end and in line with the inner face of the bottom is provided with an opening or hand-hole, f, through which the heavy or valuableniaterial can be withdrawn, the opening or hand-hole being provided with a suitable cover or door to prevent the escape of the material except as desired.

Instead of the opening orhand-holef being located on the end, it might be located on the bottom. It will be evident, however, that instead of using hand holes for removing the contents of the semi-cylindrical receptacles, stop-cocks might be substituted therefor for accomplishing the same purpose. Each side of each slot a is provided with a longitudinal groove to receive a plate,d, which forms a gate or shut-off, by means of which theinflow into the receptacle can be stopped, the gate being slid out or in to open or close the slot by hand, one end thereof projecting beyond the edge or face of the bottom A, on the side, for this purpose.

The shaft 0 passes through all of the sections or receptacles at the center of the circle, andon this, in each receptacle, is located a stirrer or beater, D, formed of paddles or arms extendiu g out from the shaft. The shaft 0 is supported in suitable bearings, and stuffingboxes may be provided to close the opening where it passesthrough each receptacle. This shaft is given a rotary movement in any suitable manner, causing the stirrers or heaters to revolve and act on the contents of their respective receptacles and agitate the water and disintegrate the material, causing the light to rise to the top and pass ofi' through the waste-openings e, and allowing the heavy to sink to the bottom by its own gravity.

On the shaft 0, in the space between any two of the receptacles B, is located a pulley, E, one or more, according to the length of the sluice-box or trough. This pulley or these pulleys are arranged in line with a pulley or pul- -1eys,F, located on a crank-shaft mounted in a bracket or support, G, attached to the sluicebox or trough, and over these pulleys E F a belt passes to impart a rotary movement to the pulley F from the pulley E. Instead'ot' pulleys and belt, sprocket-wheels and chain may be used.

- One end of the shaft on which the pulley F is secured is provided with a crank, H, to the end of which is pivoted one end of a bar or link, I, the other end of which is pivoted to the outer end of an arm or link, J, the other end of which arm orlink is secured to a shaft,

K, mounted in suitable bearings, Z, on the upper end ofstandards or supports W, which sup ports extend up, as shown, from the legs or supports V, on which the sluice-box or trough is supported, suitable braces being provided to give the necessary rigidity to the standards or supports W. The shaft K is nearly the entire length of the sluice box-or trough, and is given a rocking movement by the rotation of the crank H, the extent of the movement being adjusted by the holes g g in the outer ends of the arms or links I J.

On the rock-shaft K, in line with the slots or openings at, are secured arms L, one to correspond with each opening; and to the upper end of each arm is secured one arm of a sliding bar, M, which bar is supported in stand ards N, one on each side of the sluice-box or trough, so as to be free to slide back and forth. The other arm of this sliding bar M has secured thereto a slide or clearer, 1), formed as shown in Fig. 7, or in some other suitable form adapted to enter the slot a and play back and forth therein as the bar M is reciprocated, and

keep the slots clear and open for the inflow or passage of the heavy material into the sectionsor receptacles. As shown, these slides or clearer-s are formed with a shank to pass through the slot and act to keep it open and clear, and a broad base, which acts as a stop trough; but it may be otherwise located and arranged, so long as it is adapted to convey water under pressure, to be discharged by a pipe or nozzle, Q, or otherwise, to wash the material from the receptacle It down the sluicebox or trough. t V

The branch pipes P enter supply-pipe O and lead therefrom to the receptacles or sections B, a pipe being provided for each receptacle or section. These pipes are for the purpose of flushing or washiugthc receptacles after the caught material has been removed, so far as practiced by hand, and insuring the removal of any material that may catch or stick on the sides of the receptacle, by such flushing or washing, receptacles being provided into which the water and material will be deposited as the water runs out through the openings f. The water-supply to these pipes P is cut ofi or let on by a suitable plug or valve (not shown) operated by a stem, n--one for each pipe P.'

The receptacle R is located at the head end of the sluice-box or trough, and into it is dumped or deposited the material to be separated, the capacity of the receptacle correspondiu g to the working capacity of the sluicebox or trough. This receptacle may be of the form shown or any other suitable form for dumping or depositing the material therein, and may be made of wood or other suitable materia...

As shown, the power for driving the shaft 0 is derived from a water-wheel, S, located at the tail end of the sluice-box, and adapted to be rotated by the water as it is discharged from the sluice-box or trough; but other power may be used for this purpose, if desired, although thewater-wheel furnishes a ready means for the purpose, as it can be driven by the' waste water of the sluice-box or trough, thereby saving the expense and trouble of providing other motive power.

In the form of construction shown power is communicated to the shaft 0 by the miter or gear wheel 1', supported in suitable ears or bearingsj, on the shaft of which wheel 6 is a pulley for a belt, K, which belt passes over a pulley on the shaft of the water-wheel, so that by the revolution of the water-wheel the belt will drive the wheel 2' and through it the wheel h and shaft 0.

The receptacles or troughs T are located at the tail end of the sluice-box or trough, to receive the water and catch the material, if any there be, which escapes by not entering the slots a. These receptacles are supported on legs U, which legs, if desired, may be provided with wheels, by means of which the receptacle, when full, can be pulled out of the way to be emptied and another be pushed into place, thereby increasing the facility with which they are handled. A pipe or hose is provided to flush or wash the receptacles T, which is connected with a coupling, Y, on the pipe 0 for supplying water to the pipe or hose X, the wa= ter being cut ofl or let on by a suitable valve or plug (not shown) operated by the stem 0.

In so far as relates to the meansfor driving the shaft 0 and operating the slides or cleaners b, other means than those shown and de scribed can be used, and, if desired, independent means might be provided for operating the shaft and for operating the slides or cleaners.

In operation the material is dumped or deposited in the receptacleR, and water is thrown into the receptacle against the material from the hose or discharge 0, the action of the water disintegrating the mass of material, the disintegrated portion as fast as separated passing with the water down the sluice-box or trough. As the material descends the heavy portion naturally sinks to the bottom, where it enters the slots or openings a and passes into the receptacles B, and the portion so entering will be still further separated by the action of the stirrer or heaters, as before described. In the transit down the sluice-box or trough a portion will enter the first opening or slot to and pass into the first receptacle, and when the next opening or slot is reached another portion will enter therein and pass into the receptacle for such slot, and so on until the last opening has been reached and passed, by which time all the heavy or valuable portion will have been pretty effectually precipitated and deposited in the receptacles, to be then acted on still further by the heaters.

When the material is to be removed the gate or shutoff d of each opening is closed to prevent further entrance of the material until after the receptacles have been emptied through the hand-hole or openingf, and the water from their pipes P, the flow of water from these pipes being shut off until the sluice-box or trough is in operation.

To prevent rocks. stones, and other large substances from passing down the sluice-box or trough, rods or cross-bars p are provided at the entrance, against which such substances will strike and be caught and held until removed by hand, care being taken to keep such substances removed, so that they will not interfere with the passage of the material.

By means of this apparatus it will be seen that'au effectual separation of the material will be had, and that such separation will be very perfect, as it is subjected to a double action-that of the water in the sluice-box or trough and that of the heaters or stirrers in .the sections or receptacles.

1. The sluice-box or trough A A, provided with transverse slots or openings at, and semic'ylindrical sections or cylinders B, located heneath the sluice-box or trough and communicating therewith through the slots or openings at, in combination with the slide or clearer b and mechanism for reciprocating the same, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The sluice-box or trough A A, provided with transverse slots or openings a, and semicylindrical sections or receptacles B, located beneath the sluice or trough and communicating therewith through the slots or openings (1, in combination with the slide or clearer b, shaft 0, provided with the stirrers or agitators D, and suitable mechanisms for reciprocating the slide or clearer and driving the shaft 0, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The sluice or trough AA, provided with transverse slots or openings a, and semi-cylindrical sections or receptacles B, communicating with the sluice or trough through the slots or openings at, in combination with the slide or clearer I), reciprocating barM, arm L, rock-shaft K, and mechanism for rocking the shaft K and reciprocating the bar M and causing the slide or clearer to keep the slots or openings clear and free, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

4. The sluice or trough A A, provided with transverse slots or openings a, and semi-cylindrical sections or receptacles B, com municating with the sluice or trough through the slots or openings a, in combination with the slide or clearer b, reciprocating bar M, arm L, rocksbaft K, connecting-links J I, crank or crankshaft H, pulleys F E, shaft 0, and mechanism for driving the shaft 0, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The sluice or trough A A, provided With transverse slots or openings to, and semi-cylindrical sections or receptacles B, located beneath the sluice or trough and communicating therewith through the openings a, in com bina tion with the stirrers or agitators D, located and revolving in the sections or receptacles, shaft 0, beveled-gear wheels h 1', bearingsj, pulley k, and water-wheel S, for driving the shaft and revolving the stirrers or agitators from the Waste water of the sluice, substantially as specified.

with through the slots or openings a, stirrers or agitators D, located and operating in the sections or receptacles B, shaft 0, water-wheel S, an intermediate mechanism for imparting a rotary movement to the shaft-from the water- Wheel, in combination with the slides or clearers b, reciprocating'bars M, oscillating arms N, rock-shaft K,-.crank or crank-shaft H, and a connection between the crank and rock-shaft, pulley F, and pulley E on the shaft 0, for revolving the stirrers or agitators, and reciprocating the slides or clearers from the 'Waste water of the sluice or trough, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. The sluice or trough A A, provided with the transverse slots or openings a, semi-cylindrical sections or receptacles B, communicating with the sluice or trough through the openings a, stirrers or agitators D, located and revolving in the sections or receptacles B, shaft 0, and a driving mechanism therefor, in combination with the receptacle 1%, for the material to be Washed, water-supply pipe 0, and hose-,

discharge Q, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. The sluice or trough A A, provided with the transverse slots or openings to, semi-cylindrical sections or receptacles B, communicating with .the sluice or trough through the slots or openings at, slides or elearers b, and a lIlGt'llanism for reciprocating the same, stirrers or agitators D, shaft 0, and a mechanism for revolving the shaft, in combination with the receptacle 1t, water-supply pipe 0, and hose-discharge Q, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. The sluice or trough A A, provided with the transverse openings at, and semi-cylindrical sections or receptacles B, communicating with the sluice or trough through the openings a, in combination with the troughs or receivers T, discharge-pipe X, and water-supply pipe 0,

substantially as and for the purposes specified. 

